Subject: [cwj 73] Civic groups ask Japan court to halt MOX fuel use
From: Corporate Watch in Japanese <cwj@corpwatch.org>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 16:23:19 -0700
Seq: 73

Civic groups ask Japan court to halt MOX fuel use 

JAPAN : August 10, 2000

TOKYO - Environmental and other civic groups yesterday filed
for an injunction against the use of plutonium-uranium mixed
oxide (MOX) fuel at a reactor in northern Japan. 

The request, filed by 864 people from across the country at Fukushima
local district court, asked the court to halt the use of MOX fuel in Tokyo
Electric Power Co Ltd's reactor in Fukushima, about 250km (155 miles)
northeast of Tokyo.

The groups, which include Greenpeace, say the controversial fuel is
potentially dangerous.

"They want to use MOX fuel in these ageing reactors," a statement by
the groups said. "We are extremely worried about an accident occuring
and want TEPCO to refrain from using MOX fuel in the reactors."

The MOX fuel used in the reactor is manufactured by Belgian firm
Belgonucleaire, it said.

Last September, Japan suffered its worst nuclear accident in which
two workers were killed at a uranium processing plant, sparking
widespread criticism of its nuclear programme.

Anxiety over nuclear power was raised again earlier this year when
British power company British Nuclear Fuels admitted it had falsified
data on a MOX fuel shipment to Japan. 

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE 

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